The episode explores the journey to mental wellness, focusing on both individual and family healing in the context of addiction and mental health recovery. Abigail Gray, Assistant Clinical Director at Midwest Recovery Centers, shares her expertise on therapeutic modalities like art therapy, cognitive and dialectical behavioral therapies, and highlights the importance of understanding the brain, nervous system, and the role of family dynamics. Listeners are guided through practical insights and compassionate perspectives on letting go of control, building healthy coping skills, and finding personal purpose and stability in recovery.

Suzanne Brown, LCSW, Clinical Director at Midwest Recovery Centers, shares her personal and professional insights on how addiction impacts entire families, not only individuals. She offers practical tools for family recovery, including boundary setting, detaching with love, and understanding the disease model of addiction. By reframing enabling as "caring out of balance," listeners are empowered to support their loved ones compassionately while also protecting their own wellbeing.

Key Points/Topics Covered

1. Understanding addiction as a family disease and separating the person from their illness
2. The impact of addiction on family members and the importance of self-care for families
3. Enabling behavior: Innocent vs. desperate enabling and how caring can become out of balance
4. Practical boundary setting and the concept of detaching with love
5. Supporting and modeling healthy behaviors for children in families impacted by addiction

Kevin O’Grady, founder and CEO of Midwest Recovery Centers, shares his own deeply personal story, highlighting his early struggles with addiction, the family dynamics that shaped his journey, and his eventual path to recovery. As Kevin recounts his adolescence, battles with substance use, and the interventions that helped him seek change, the discussion emphasizes how addictive behaviors escalate, the importance of relatable support, and the unique culture at MRC that fosters hope and authenticity for those seeking help. Hosted by Taylor Brown, Director of Admissions and Marketing at Midwest Recovery Centers, the conversation aims to inspire those struggling -- along with their families -- to believe in the possibility of healing, while offering practical insight into how support systems can influence recovery.